Ethiopia has intensified its climate-driven transport reforms by extending its ban on fuel-powered vehicles to include diesel and gas trucks.
- Ethiopia has expanded its fuel-powered vehicle ban to include diesel and gas trucks as part of climate-driven reforms.
- The announcement was made by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during the launch of new energy plants on October 3, 2025.
- This initiative supports Ethiopia’s Climate-Resilient Green Economy goals, aiming for carbon-neutral growth by 2030.
- Ethiopia’s actions align with broader African efforts toward green transport and renewable energy-powered economies.
Ethiopia is ramping up its crackdown on fuel-powered vehicles by tightening import restrictions on diesel and gasoline trucks.
The latest regulations seek to blacklist certain models, part of a broader effort to reduce emissions and shift toward cleaner transportation solutions amid mounting environmental concerns.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) announced the decision on October 3, 2025, during the inauguration of a new refinery and fertilizer plants in Gode, Somali Regional State, marking a significant step in the country’s green energy transition.
The move builds on Ethiopia’s 2024 prohibition of gasoline and diesel-powered automobiles under its Climate-Resilient Green Economy initiative. That policy was designed to cut emissions and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles across the country.
“Starting from today, just as we have done with automobiles, it is not permitted to import fuel-powered trucks,” Abiy declared, signaling Ethiopia’s deepening commitment to renewable energy and electric mobility.
Ethiopia Bets on Green Growth
The ban is part of Ethiopia’s Climate-Resilient Green Economy initiative, which targets carbon-neutral economic growth by 2030.
With more than 90 percent of its electricity generated from renewable sources, mainly hydropower, the government is positioning electrification as both an economic and environmental strategy.
Tax incentives for electric vehicles and heavy investment in charging infrastructure have spurred a surge in EV imports and encouraged local assembly of passenger cars and buses.
Expanding the policy to trucks is a more ambitious step, given the logistics sector’s dependence on diesel. But the government believes the transition is essential to cutting emissions and reducing reliance on costly fuel imports.
Africa’s Electric Vehicle Push
Ethiopia’s decision aligns with a broader trend across Africa, where countries are beginning to embrace electric mobility as a pathway to sustainable growth.
South Africa has attracted major investment in EV assembly plants, while Rwanda and Kenya have introduced incentives to boost electric motorcycle adoption. Nigeria has also unveiled policy frameworks to encourage local EV production.
Although infrastructure challenges persist, Africa’s growing renewable energy base, particularly hydropower and solar, gives the continent a competitive advantage in building an electric future. Ethiopia, with its abundant hydropower, is emerging as one of the strongest champions of this shift.
Economic Impact and Regional Trade
Extending the ban to trucks will carry immediate consequences for Ethiopia’s economy and its neighbors.
Diesel-powered trucks dominate cross-border trade in the Horn of Africa, serving as lifelines for imports and exports. A restriction on truck imports may disrupt logistics companies in the short term, raising costs and pressuring transport operators to adapt.
However, analysts note that the policy could accelerate investment in electric freight solutions. If successfully implemented, Ethiopia could become a regional model for decarbonizing heavy transport – an area where global climate efforts have often struggled.
By combining renewable energy capacity with bold policy choices, Ethiopia is signaling that it intends not just to follow but to lead Africa’s green transition.
